Written by: Hennie Fisher
Even though Pretoria has a bustling restaurant scene, the opening of a new restaurant is usually cause for great excitement. More so when it is in a part of the city that may be considered somewhat lacking in independent restaurants. Centurion does have great eateries, but given how many people live in the greater Centurion, surely there is room for expansion. You may certainly try the new Vamos Osteria. It is tucked in between an Asian restaurant and a Crawdaddy’s, and some Afrikaans music may reach your ears from a bustling Padstal further down the row of restaurants.
Even though one may wonder about the cultural specificity of the restaurant, Vamos Osteria should immediately tell you that this is a full-on Mediterranean restaurant, with the word Vamos meaning ‘let’s go’ in Spanish, and of course, Osteria being the Italian word for a simple rustic eatery.
The restaurant has a pretty Mediterranean interior, with lovely wooden chairs and blue gingham tablecloths. The kitchen is open to the restaurant and clad in blue-and-white geometric tiles. There are some great banquets at the back of the restaurant, but on a good night, one wants to secure an outside table. Alas, the view is typical of Gauteng, a bustling street beyond a parking lot, but at least you get to enjoy patrons coming and going to the neighbouring restaurants.
The staff is super friendly and attentive, and yes, since this is a new restaurant, it is expected that everyone should put their best foot forward – but the service feels honest and warm without feeling forced. The wine list may need some work, somehow being too simple and nondescript. While there is nothing wrong with Nederburg, Drostdy Hof and Two Oceans, most people have moved on from those stalwarts and a restaurant celebrating the flavours of the Mediterranean would do well to invest in South African options that will address the needs of the audience while enhancing the delicious flavours we have come to associate with food from the Mediterranean - tomatoes from Italy, seafood from Greece, brinjals and onions from Spain and so on.
The starters on the menu make one want to order a huge platter of these to share amongst friends. The selection includes dolmades, falafel, grilled calamari tentacles, fried halloumi, char-grilled chorizo, or prawns served with Htipiti, a creamy Greek dip of blended feta with roasted red peppers, olive oil, garlic, and yoghurt.
The menu is comprehensive, subtly addressing the needs of people who may follow a specific diet, such as chicken breast and avocado served with a Greek salad. It is these hidden gems on the menu that one should carefully seek out, such as a Chimichurri baste for any of the meats on the grill (although not very Mediterranean, the flavours work so well it might as well be). The meats on offer include aged sirloin, skinny lamb chops, pork Tomahawk, or even a lamb shank. Many of their dishes, including the sirloin, can be ordered with a topping of Mozzarella and crispy bacon bits for an Al Forno version from the food-fired oven. The souvlakis also come in various options, including Halloumi, Falafel, and pork belly, among others. Other main courses include yiros (or gyros in Greek, meat from the rotisserie in pita), seafood platters, and a few beautiful pastas - the Gabriella with chicken, sundried tomatoes, aubergine, and feta sounds especially good.
Even though the restaurant has a wood-fired pizza oven, the pizza may need some attention. The toppings are excellent, well-seasoned, and offer a great variety, such as Siciliana, pulled pork, or Tutto with ham, salami, bacon, and mushrooms for the serious meat lovers. It is the base of the pizza that could benefit from some attention. We have become accustomed to the poofy Naples-style pizza edge, which is crusty, airy, and light, with a very thin base.
Website: https://www.vamososteria.co.za/
If for some other reason you are an out-of-towner and need to find an above-average restaurant in Centurion, do try Vamos Osteria. Order carefully, and by the way, the chips are superb, so you’ll not go wrong with those as a side. This restaurant gives you options that authentically reflect the true identity of the Mediterranean.